Toddlers & Painting for Fine Motor Development

Toddlers develop their hand muscles while painting.

A variety of painting activities help toddlers develop their fine motor skills. Focus on projects that enhance eye-hand coordination, finger dexterity and muscle strength. Painting is not only entertaining for toddlers but helps them to refine their creativity and learn colors as well.

Fingerpainting

The art of fingerpainting is a basic approach to developing fine motor skills through art. Place a dollop of paint onto a surface and let the children put their hands into this and paint away. Some toddlers may be timid and use a finger at a time. Use special fingerpaint paper, freezer paper or even a cookie sheet. Allow the children to experiment in their own way.

Edible Fingerpaint

Using non-toxic paints are very important when working with toddlers, as they tend to put things into their mouths. Edible paints to consider are pudding, yogurt, whipped cream and gelatin. Make sure the children wash their hands prior to handling the paints. The toddlers can paint on paper or a reusable surface such as cookie sheets or a clean tabletop.

Paintbrush Projects

Toddlers can exercise their hands by using a paintbrush. Make sure to select brushes with a short handle and a large usable area. Invite the toddlers to paint on a variety of paper, such as copy paper, grocery bags, cardboard, butcher paper and construction paper. Sheets of newspaper are a unique surface where toddlers add bright colors to newsprint.

Outdoor Spray Painting

Tape a large sheet of butcher paper or a cotton fabric sheet to a fence or wall outdoors. Fill spray bottles with food coloring and water. Invite the toddlers to spray paint the surface with designs. Pulling the trigger on the spray bottles exercises the fine motor muscles helping finger dexterity.

Painting with Water

Give the toddler a real house painting brush and a small bucket with water. The child will enjoy painting all types of surfaces with water. Using up and down strokes, invite the toddlers to paint walls, sidewalks, swing sets and outdoor furniture just like adults do with real paint.

Easel Painting

In addition to painting on a table, let the toddlers try easel painting. Make sure the easel is at the correct height that allows the child to paint standing up. Place a drop cloth underneath the easel to collect spills. Easel painting not only uses the hands but the arms as well.